Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to raise public awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

WWP accomplishes this mission by providing programs and services to severely injured active service members and their families during the critical time between their initial rehabilitation while on active duty and their eventual transition to civilian life. WWP employs staff with over 55 years of combined experience in providing direct services to active duty service members and disabled veterans, including benefits counseling, representation before the department of veterans affairs, bringing public attention to the needs of wounded service members, and advocating for regulatory and statutory changes beneficial to veterans and active duty service members.

There are many military service organizations that provide services to active duty service members and their families, and many veteran service organizations that provide services and opportunities for fraternal interaction to veterans upon their discharge from service. However, few organizations devote their resources to assisting the severely wounded during this critical period. WWP fills this vital, unmet need, bringing comfort, support, and aid to severely injured service members and their families during this challenging time in their lives.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded on the principle that veterans are our nation's greatest citizens. The WWP seeks to assist those men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations around the world. Many of the injuries are traumatic amputations, gunshot wounds, burns and blast injuries that will retire these brave warriors from military service.

At the Wounded Warrior Project we provide programs and services designed to ease the burdens of the wounded and their families, aid in the recovery process, and smooth the transition back to civilian life.

Our work begins at the bedside of the severely wounded, where we provide comfort items and necessities, counseling, and support for families. We help to speed rehabilitation and recovery through adaptive sports and recreation programs, raising patients' morale, and exposing them to the endless possibilities of life after an injury. Finally, we provide a support mechanism for those who have returned home, providing outreach and advocacy on issues like debt and disability payments that will affect their families' future.

We cannot restore the lost limbs, but we can help restore to our Wounded Warriors their dignity by ensuring that they are not forgotten. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

   Weber's Command of the Grill(TM) Cookbook Raises Money for Charities That Directly Benefit Wounded or Killed Marines and Their Families

Launch Event to Be Held in NYC as Part of Fleet Week in May

PALATINE, Ill., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- This May, Weber-Stephen Products Co. will release a very special cookbook, Command of the Grill -- A Salute to Steak(TM), which will feature grilled steak recipes by active, reserve, and famous former U.S. Marines. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the nationally distributed 80-page cookbook, which retails for $10, will go to four charities that directly benefit U.S. Marines wounded or killed in the line of duty and their families.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060410/CGM027-a

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Many of the recipes for the book were selected from 10 "Command of the Grill" grilling semi-final competitions held at Marine Corps bases across the country, including Camp Pendleton and MCB Quantico, between Oct. 14 and Dec. 16, 2005. The winners of those semi-finals will be flown to New York City to compete in the "Command of the Grill" finals and cookbook launch event on Thursday, May 25, 2006, from 7 to 9 a.m. in Times Square (at 42nd and Broadway), as a part of Fleet Week '06.

To qualify for the semi-finals, Marines submitted an original grilling recipe and explained in 50 words or less why their recipe is the best and why they should win. At the semi-final events, each Marine grilled two New York strip steaks and a panel of judges chose one winner based on creativity of the entry essay, visual appeal, and the taste of their steak.

The book will feature recipes from "honorable mentions" and winners at the semi-final events, including Captain Eric Peter Dominijanni's Disco's Hot and Tangy New York Strip Steaks. "Captain D" as he likes to be called, has been cooking since childhood. While stationed in Iraq, he was known to make paella for his troops in the back of his Assault Amphibian Vehicle. "I may have had to fight like a barbarian, but I didn't have to eat like one," Dominijanni said.

In addition to the winners' background information and anecdotes, the Command of the Grill cookbook will also feature grilling advice and tips from Weber, profiles of the four benefiting charities, grilling guides for steaks and vegetables. To further support the fundraising effort, 10 famous former Marines, who have now reached the rank of celebrity, will contribute grilled steak recipes:

     1.  Wilford Brimley- Actor; most known for his memorable performance in

         Ron Howard's Cocoon (1985)

     2.  Art Donovan- Former professional football player and member of the

         Pro Football Hall of Fame

     3.  George Jones- Country music star

     4.  Dan Lauria- Actor; most known for his role as the father in The

         Wonder Years (ABC TV Network, 1988-1993)

     5.  Ed McMahon- Legendary TV personality most well known as Johnny

         Carson's sidekick/announcer on NBC's long-running The Tonight Show

     6.  Ken Norton- Legendary boxer who won the heavyweight title from

         Muhammad Ali in 1973

     7.  Bum Phillips- Former NFL coach for the Houston Oilers and the New

         Orleans Saints

     8.  Tom Seaver- Former professional baseball player and member of the

         National Baseball Hall of Fame

     9.  Lee Trevino- Professional golfer who defeated Jack Nicklaus for the

         U.S. Open victory in 1971

     10. Jo Jo White- Legendary NBA basketball player who played for the

         Boston Celtics

All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will go to the following charities:

     -- Wounded Warrior Project: The Project seeks to assist those men and

        women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the

        conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world.

        http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

     -- Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was

        formed to provide supplemental assistance to our Marines, sailors, and

        their families as they face the road to recovery.

        http://www.semperfifund.org

     -- Fisher House(TM): There is at least one Fisher House at every major

        military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that

        they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive

        environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 8,500

        families, and has made available more than two million days of lodging

        to family members since the program originated in 1990.

        http://www.fisherhouse.org

     -- Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation:  The organization primarily

        renders assistance to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement

        personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary

        circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad.

        http://www.mclef.org

The Command of the Grill finals will be held in Times Square from 7 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2006, as part of Fleet Week. In addition to bragging rights as the national Commander of the Grill, the winning Marine will take home a prize package worth more than $5,000. The prize package includes a new luxury Weber® gas grill, and a grilling lesson and dinner for him/her and 10 of their Marine buddies -- at their U.S. Marine Corps base -- with chef and best-selling author Jamie Purviance.

"We hope to raise at least a half-million dollars from this effort," said Mike Kempster Sr., executive vice president, Weber-Stephen Products Co.. "We want to show our support for brave men and women who have been separated from their families, wounded in the line of duty, and need help coping with new challenges when they come home."

Chef Jamie Purviance, best-selling author of Weber's Real Grilling(TM), Weber's Art of the Grill(TM), and co-author of Weber's Big Book of Grilling(TM) (with Sandra S. McRae), will be the lead judge for the finals competition. Purviance has been certified by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, and he serves as a judge at major competitions such as the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational. Purviance has been featured on many television shows -- including NBC's "Today," CBS's "Early Show," "FOX & Friends," and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Bon Appetit also profiled him in the magazine's most recent list of "Who's Who in American Barbecue."

Supporting sponsors who have graciously donated their services and/or time to the "Command of the Grill" fundraising effort are:

     -- United Airlines: The Chicago-based company has donated round-trip

        airline tickets to fly all the finalist Marines and their spouses or

        guests -- plus Command of the Grill event staffers -- to New York City

        for the final competition.

     -- New York City Marriott Hotels: Six Marriott hotels in New York City

        have donated more than 100 free nights to house the finalist Marines

        and their families during Fleet Week, including hotels representing

        Marriott, Renaissance and Courtyard by Marriott.

     -- Jeep: A fleet of all-new Jeep Commander SUVs will be provided for

        on-the-ground transportation for the Marines and their families in

        New York City during Fleet Week and the Command of the Grill

        competition.

     -- FCL Graphics: The printing company, based in Harwood Heights, IL (a

        suburb of Chicago), is donating almost half the production costs to

        complete the Command of the Grill -- A Salute to Steak cookbook and

        retail display cartons.

     -- Smith & Wollensky: The quintessential New York steakhouse has donated

        a welcome reception for the finalist Marines, the charities'

        representatives, and those involved in the fundraising effort. The

        restaurant's executive chef, Victor Chavez, will be a judge for the

        finals event.

Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories, and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen designed the Weber® kettle with a lid that allows outdoor cooks to grill in all kinds of weather. A family-owned business for more than 50 years, Weber has grown to be a leading exporter of outdoor grills worldwide. Weber charcoal and gas grills are available at select home centers, Marine Corps Exchanges, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its all-year, round- the-clock Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT®) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and more than 200 original Weber recipes at http://www.weber.com®.

                                 Fisher House

A Fisher House is a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. As of this printing, there are 35 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and eight VA medical centers, with another three houses under construction. The program began in 1990 and has offered more than two million days of lodging to more than 75,000 families.

Fisher House Foundation donated Fisher Houses to the U. S. Government. They have full-time salaried managers, but depend on volunteers and voluntary support to enhance daily operations and program expansion.

Through the generosity of the American public, the foundation has expanded its programs to meet the needs of our service men and women who have been wounded in the Global War on Terrorism. The foundation uses donated frequent flyer miles to provide airline travel to reunite families of the wounded and to enable our wounded heroes to go home to convalesce. The foundation also sponsors a service for creating personal web journals on the Internet to keep family and friends up to date during the hospitalization of a loved one. Called "CaringBridge," the service is free for military and veterans' families.

Families of service men and women hospitalized due to their service in Iraq or Afghanistan do not pay to stay at a Fisher House, and the foundation helps cover the cost of alternative housing when the Fisher Houses are full.

For further information about these programs, to find out about volunteering, or to make a tax-deductible gift, go to their web site at: http://www.fisherhouse.org .

You can also obtain information by writing them at: Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Phone: (888) 294-8560. E-mail: info@fisherhouse.org .

                  Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation

Mission: To encourage the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of children through education.

This Foundation was formed in February 1995 by former Marines and law enforcement personnel who strongly believe that our nation's most precious resource is its youth.

The recent war in Iraq has certainly illuminated America's commitment to freedom. We are reminded that freedom is not free. The price is great. No one knows that better than the left-behind sons and daughters of America's fallen heroes.

Through the continuous support of our donors, we have distributed aid with a value of more than $24 million to eligible children. This assistance was primarily rendered to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad. These funds enable us to provide these children with scholarships for their higher education. When a child of a United States Marine is afflicted with a physical or mental disability and requires special medical equipment or tutoring, our Foundation may grant financial assistance to that family if their personal insurance does not cover the complete cost of treatment for this child.

In addition to the regular program, our Foundation decided to support all American Forces and also Coalition Forces in the invasion of Iraq and taking of Baghdad from 3 March 2003 to 16 July 2003. In the past, the Foundation also included in our program the children who lost a parent from all agencies killed in the murderous attack on the Pentagon. We also decided to go back and give our bonds to children who lost a parent on the USS Cole; the children of the Air Force personnel killed at Khobar Towers; and, with great honor, the twelve children who lost their parent on the space shuttle Columbia disaster.

This assistance has had a positive, life-changing effect on many, many children. We are thankful for the commitment and support of our many members and volunteers. Because of their dedication, no administrative costs of any type are charged to our Foundation. One hundred percent of the donations received is used to fund programs for the children we serve. http://www.mclef.org

                        Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Since September 11, 2001, United States Marines have been on the front line in the War Against Terror. Whether fighting wars or winning the peace, Marines serve their country and their Corps with courage and commitment. Sometimes that service results in catastrophic injuries. When serious injuries occur, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is there to help.

The Need

Wounded Marines and sailors are given the finest medical care available, but it is their families that provide the emotional component for healing. These families share the pain and burden of recovery, but few have the resources to get them through this stressful time. They are not prepared for the personal and financial disruption that occurs when they drop everything to be with their loved one through long months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. Often, they must take leave from their jobs without pay, and incur expenses for travel, lodging, child care, and other necessities. Their need is genuine, and immediate.

The IMSFF was created to respond to this need.

Our Mission

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance to injured Marines and other service members injured while assigned to Marine forces. The goal is to alleviate the financial burden placed on the family so that their focus can be on their loved one's recovery. If the mother of a wounded Marine needs help with travel expenses to be with her son or daughter, the Semper Fi Fund is there. If the wife of an injured Marine falls behind on a mortgage payment because she left work to be with her husband at the hospital, the Semper Fi Fund is there. If a wounded Marine, whose sight was impaired from an RPG blast, needs a special magnifier, the Semper Fi Fund is there.

"Semper Fi" means "Always Faithful." That is our pledge to the heroic Marines who have been injured while protecting our nation.

The Fund

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was established in May 2004. A nurse at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, whose husband was deployed to Iraq, saw first hand the needs of those returning from battle. She brought together a group of Marine Corps spouses to implement a plan to give financial grants and needed equipment to injured Marines and their families. In the summer of 2004, General Alfred Gray, 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, two retired general officers, and a retired sergeant major joined them.

The Fund works closely with Marine Corps, Navy, Army and VA hospitals nationwide to identify and assess the needs of specific families. Once a family has been identified, they are given a grant application. Upon submitting a completed application, the case is reviewed by a Fund caseworker and then referred to a committee for approval. Typically, assistance is provided in less than 72 hours from submission and there is no expectation of repayment.

To date, the Fund has provided more than $3 million in assistance, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of donors from across America. http://www.semperfifund.org              

Free "Getting Home" DVD Offer

 

Triwest, the TRICARE West regional contractor, has developed a DVD to assist Global War on Terrorism deployment veterans make the readjustment home after long absences. They are offering the DVD free of charge and no cost for shipping. You can order now by going to http://www.triwest.com/. Click on the DVD icon. Order 1 or up to 1000.